Today we’d like to introduce you to McKenzie Mowoe.
Hi McKenzie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
So, I did an article pre COVID, a few days before the shutdowns began. Once COVID had hit, I didn’t realize the multiple opportunities that came into my hands and my life. I was already shooting sports events and creating highlights, which was fun. But around the summer of 2020, I created a dance series highlighting multiple women of color in the dance world, and it grew from there. I had the opportunity to shoot and work with many choreographers who’ve worked with big artists. It was a big milestone at such a young age. I’ve met/networked with so many people, it’s so unreal at times. I’m blessed and proud of the journey I’ve gone through to this point. I grew as a woman, but I grew even bigger as a businesswoman.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Of course, the road has been bumpy, but I wouldn’t necessarily say to the public. Yes, I worked with many people and organizations. Yes, I’ve received multiple scholarships for school. Life was great, but was it? How was I behind the camera? What am I without the business and the accolades? That, I still can’t solve right now. I took a lot of L’s in my personal life for at least 8 years. I was losing friendships due to my actions, not properly taking care of myself, a lot of isolation, just hurting myself mentally and emotionally. It seemed like whenever I felt I was doing better, I would backpedal into a pit full of darkness. Yeah, others were hurt in the process, but I was hurting myself 10x more. It is disappointing to see yourself succeeding so well, but your personal life is just falling apart due to your issues and the matters at hand. You know, I’m a horrible critic of myself: always feeling like I have to do more to be better and be different, but that can always backfire on you if you’re not doing it healthily. I want to continue inspiring women, especially black women, but I need to find my true purpose in life.
Right now, as I’m on this break from my business, I hope to do the right shadow work needed to go back to having the right sound of mind and a better heart. It’s time to fight my inner demons. This is just the process, but I think my time to reflect on my actions and memories will help me find a better purpose and happy medium with my life.
SN: Shoutout to my immediate family, but definitely my brother Odion, Cameron Sweet, Jackie, the Kalu sisters, Kaliah, Kayla, Camera, Kathryn. Y’all have been on this journey with me and I appreciate every single one of you that words cannot describe.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am an independent videographer. I’m pretty much sufficient with the majority of cameras and lens and their operations, however, I use Sony mainly. I’ve been focusing strictly on video because that’s just what I do.
I’ve recorded plenty of different videos such as dance workshops and classes, initiation presentations for Greek organizations, business promos, music videos, sports events, interviews, TV-series, competitions, religious events, and so many more. But my main projects have been dealing with dance. So from hip-hop, heels, lyrical, contemporary, majorette, the list just continues.
What sets me apart from normal videographers is the most obvious: I’m a young woman, a black young woman at that. There isn’t a lot of black women in the industry doing film independently and I think sometimes that can intimidating to others. I’m proud of the mental and emotional strength I’ve had for the past year and a half because it can get rowdy and really tough.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
While creating content, what matters to me is seeing my sisters and brothers (black people) show their talents and their work ethic. Seeing my people happy about what they’re doing and being proud of themselves is the reason I keep going every day with the business. People of color experienced a lot of trials and tribulations throughout centuries, and we deserve the platform to express ourselves and be ourselves, but especially African-Americans. That’s what matters to me and my business. Now me personally, without the business, I’m not sure what matters. I thought I knew it after the multiple drafts I’ve had for this question, but I genuinely do not know. I still have a lot to figure out and whenever the time comes, I want to answer this full of honesty and transparency.
Contact Info:
- Email: kenzproductions19@gmail.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/k.prod19/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/k.prod19/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/kenzproductions?lang=en
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/KenzProductions
Image Credits
Sweetography
